Towel dispensing mechanism



March 24, 1959 v H. KIRKELL TOWEL DISPENSING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed larch 30. 1956 INVENTOR. LeanHKizkell.

' March 24, 1 959 L. H. KIRKELL TOWEL DISPENSING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March so, 1956 INVENTOR le nHKid'eIl MMRW United States Patent TOWEL DISPENSING MECHANISM Leon H. Kirlrell, Blairsville, Pa. Application March 30, 1956, Serial No. 575,095

7 Claims. (Cl. 312-38) This invention pertains to towel dispensing cabinets from which a measured length of clean toweling may be forcibly withdrawn by the user and thereafter a stop mechanism is eflective to prevent further withdrawal of toweling until the user releases tension on the withdrawn portion of towel permitting release of the stop mechanism. More specifically the invention pertains to an adjustable stop mechanism providing a pre-determined minimum time interval between the release of pull on the towel and the return of the stop mechanism to a normal position for permitting Withdrawal of an additional length of toweling.

The invention therefore is equally adaptable to a dispensing cabinet for paper or cloth toweling in that the timing mechanism is independent in operation from the stop mechanism. In the case of cloth toweling, the used portion of toweling depends below the cabinet and customarily a used section is withdrawn into the cabinet as a clean section of toweling is withdrawn from the cabinet for use. Customarily towel dispensing cabinets having a. measuring roll with a stop mounted thereon are provided with means for imparting reverse rotation to the towel measuring roll after the stop mechanism is engaged in an endeavor to prevent frictional engagement within the stop mechanism from retarding release of the stop mechanism after tension is released on the withdrawn portion of toweling. Existing continuous towel dispensing mechanisms wherein a used section of toweling is taken up as a new section of clean toweling is exposed, include additional mechanism to prevent reverse rotation of the used towel take-up roll in order to prevent malicious persons from stripping the used toweling from the cabinet. In the present invention the timing mechanism includes cooperating parts which obviate necessity for additional means to impart reverse rotation to the measuring roll or to prevent Withdrawal of used toweling.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel simplified form of timing device which cooperates With the measuring roll stop mechanism to provide a minimum time interval between successive withdrawals of measured lengths of clean toweling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device of the character described which is readily adjustable so as to vary the extent of the aforesaid minimum time interval.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timing device of the character, described which is efiective in both'operative and inoperative timing positions to prevent unauthorized withdrawing of soiled toweling from towel dispensing apparatus of the continuous towel type. A further object of the invention is to provide a timing device of the character described which, in moving to timing position, is independent from operation of the stop mechanism and which, in moving out of timing position, imparts a positive force to the stop mechanism to move the latter out of stop position. Y

These and other objects will be made apparent from the following description and the drawings forming a part thereof wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a cross section through a towel dispensing cabinet of the continuous towel type;

Fig. 2 shows in front elevation, the stop and timing mechanisms with the drive for the clean towel supporting and measuring rolls removed;

Fig. 3 shows a section taken on the lines III-III of Fig. 2 with the drive mechanism in place;

Fig. 4 shows a section taken on the lines IV--IV 0 Fig. 2 with the drive mechanism in place; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the timing and stop mechanisms in fully engaged positions.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and particularly Fig. 1 thereof, the cabinet 1 may be of any suitable desired contour which, as shown, includes a rear Wall 2, top wall 3, upright front wall 4 and lower front wall 5 with bottom wall 6 connected with the rear wall 2 by any suitable means such as the hinge 7. It will be understood that the specific cabinet contour forms no part of the present invention and may be modified in any desired manner, but preferably fully encloses the toweling while being provided with some form of suitable front outlet 8 for exit of clean toweling and an inlet 9 for take-up of soiled toweling.

The towel dispensing mechanism of the cabinet of Fig. 1 comprises a pair of spaced mechanism supporting plates 10 provided with suitable means such as 11 for mounting the plates within the cabinet. Disposed between and journaled in the plates 10 are measuring roll shaft 12 and soiled towel take-up drive shaft 13. Such shafts 12 and 13 have mounted thereon suitable rolls of substantially the same diameter for rotation concurrent therewith. Similarly disposed between the plates 10, to one side of the roll 12 and in tangential engagement therewith, is a pinch roll 14 having its end portions disposed within vertical slots 15. To one side of the takeup drive roll 13 is a soiled towel take-up roll 16 journaled in the plates 10 and within angularly disposed slots 17 so that the soiled towel mounted on the roll 16 is maintained in tangential relationship with the roll 13. A roll of clean toweling 18 is disposed within the cabinet preferably below the rolls 12 and 13. One end of the roll of clean toweing extends upwardly between the rolls 12 and 14, then around the pinch roll 14 and out of the cabinet in such manner that when the end of the toweling is grasped by the user and pulled outwardly and downwardly, the pinch roll is forced into engagement with the measuring roll 12 causing rotation of the latter as the toweling is withdrawn. Said exposed end of the toweling is continued downward to form the loop 19 and then upwardly and within the cabinet where is is wound about the take-up roll 16. Suitable drive sprockets 20 are mounted exteriorly of one of the plates 10 and upon the shafts 12 and 13. Said sprockets are connected by a suitable chain drive effecting concurrent rotation of the roll shafts 12 and 13 as toweling is withdrawn. Such shaft sprockets and chain are shown in dotted lines on Fig. 2 of the drawings. The towel construction so far illustrated is the subject matter of a copending application for Towel Dispensing Cabinet, Serial No. 470,597, filed November 23, 1954 and forms no part of the present invention. For convenience the stop mechanism is actuated by movement of the measuring roll shaft 12 and the timing mechanism is actuated by movement of the roll shaft 13.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the stop mechanism being mounted upon the shaft 12 of the measuring roll is controlled thereby and serves in turn to control rotation of the measuring roll. This stop mechanism may be of any suitable form, thatshown comprising an abutment member 21 mounted on the plate 10 above Patented Mar. 24, 1959.

the measuring roll shaft 12 and secured in position by any suitable fastening means such as 22. The member 21 is provided with a face portion 23 to be engaged by a stop member 24. The stop member 24 has an elongated opening 25 therein for reception of the end of the shaft 12 of the measuring roll. The opening 25 is of sufiicient width to permit free rotation of the member 24 with shaft extension 12 and is elongated in a direction longitudinally of the member so as to provide for bodily movement of member 24 transversely of the shaft 12. Opening 25 is so proportioned that when the bottom portion thereof is in engagement with the extension of shaft 12, the upper portion of the member 24 is in engagement with abutment member 21 as shown on Fig. of the drawings. When the upper end of opening is engaged with the extension of shaft 12, the member 24 is disposed in a position below the member 21 preventing engagement therewith as indicated on Fig. 2 of the drawings. To provide for free rotation of the member 24 relative to adjacent plate 10, a spacer 26 is preferably mounted on shaft extension 12 to maintain the member 24- out of engagement with plate 10. Mounted on the shaft extension 12 for concurrent rotation therewith and outwardly of stop 24 is the member 27 provided with an abutment 28 on the rear face thereof for overlapping engagement with the stop member 24 as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The sprocket 20 mounted on shaft 12, for concurrent rotation therewith, is disposed outwardly of the member 27.

The timing mechanism, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings, comprises a lifting arm 29 connected at one end to a plunger 30 having reciprocal movement within the cylinder 31, and at its opposite end pivotally connected at 32 to a stop arm 33. A cam 34 mounted on shaft extension 13, for concurrent movement therewith engages with a cam ring 35 mounted on the lifter arm 29 for raising the lifter arm 29 from inoperative to timing position upon rotation of shaft 13. The cylinder 31 may be of any suitable exterior form and is shown here as a rectangle suitably secured to the plate 10 so as to remain in fixed relation thereto. Extending inwardly from the lower end of cylinder 31, for a portion of the length thereof, is a bore 37 which terminates in a larger bore 38 which extends to the upper end of the cylinder 31. The upper end of bore 38 is suitably tapped to receive the threaded shank 39 of an adjusting screw provided with a suitable head 40 disposed in spaced relation to the top of cylinder 31. Preferably a light coil spring encircles shaft 39 between the'upper end of cylinder 31 and the underside of head 40 serving as a lock washer to prevent free rotation of the shank 39 within the bore 38. Within the bore 38 beneath the shank 39 and supported on the shoulder formed at the intersection of the bores 37 and 38 is a coiled spring 41.

Lifter arm 29 is shown as comprising an upright portion 42 having at its upper end a suitably outwardly offset portion 43 provided with an opening 44 therethrough for reception of the plunger 30. Intermediate the ends of the member 42 is the cam ring 35 journaled for free rotation on the shaft 36 secured to the member 42. Intermediate the cam ring 35 and the portion 44 is a laterally extending portion 47 overlying the abutment 21 and provided with a downwardly depending portion 48 positioned for engagement with the stop 24 when in engagement with the abutment 21. The lower end of lifter arm portion 42 is provided with an outwardly offset portion 50 having an opening 51 therein for reception of the fastener 32 pivotally connecting the lifter arm 29 to the stop arm 33. In order to insure free vertical reciprocal movement of the lifter arm 29 and prevent accidental displacement outwardly from the plate 10, a guide arm 52 is preferably secured to the abutment 21 for extension upwardly therefor in a positiontooverlap the portion- 47 of lifter arm 29 when in highest elevated position referred to herein as the timing position.

The stop engaging arm 33 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon the lifter arm 29 by means of the pin 32 secured in the member 33. One end of the stop arm 33 is pivotally mounted by means of the pin 53 secured in the plate 10. The opposite end 54 of stop arm 33 is suitably formed so that in elevated position it engages with the stop 24 retaining it in abutment engaging position, and in lowermost position is disposed below the arc of rotation of the member 24. The plunger 30 is of such length that when lifter arm 29 is in lowermost position, the upper end of the plunger is disposed within the bore 37 of the cylinder 31. The diameter of plunger 30 is such as to move freely within bore 37.

The lower end of plunger 30 extends through the portion 44 lifter arm 29 in lowermost position and has an extension 55 of reduced diameter extending through the aperture 44 and below the lifter arm portion 43. A suitable locking ring 56 is mounted on the extension 55 securing the plunger 3t) in engagement with the lifting arm 29. Intermediate the ends of the plunger 30, in a position to be disposed in spaced relation to the cylinder 30 when lifter arm 29 is in lowermost position and to be engaged within the bore 37 of cylinder 31 whenever lifter arm 29 is in elevated position, is a resilient member 57 secured in fixed relation to the plunger 30. The member 57 may be of any suitable form and for the present purpose a rubber O-ring recessed into plunger 30 has been found suitable. The outside diameter of O-ring 57 is such as to compress and frictionally engage within the bore 37 of cylinder 1 when the lifter arm 29 is forcibly raised by the cam 34. For the purpose of securing ready compression and entrance of the O-ring into cylinder 31 the lower portion of the bore 37 is tapered as at 58. The frictional engagement between O-ring 57 and the walls of bore 37 is such that when O-ring 57 is forcibly entered into the bore 37 by upward movement of lifting arm 29, it cannot be withdrawn therefrom by gravity acting through the lifter arm 29 and associated mechanism. The coil spring 41 must therefore be placed under compression by means of the screw shank 39 so that the upper end of the plunger 30 additionally compresses the spring 41 when the O-ring enters bore 37 and it is this compression force in spring 41 which slowly ejects plunger 30 and determines the timing interval.

Cam 34 is mounted exteriorly of plate 10 upon the extension of shaft 13 for concurrent rotation therewith. Preferably a collar 59 is mounted on the rear face of cam 34 so as to raise it into a plane of engagement with the cam ring 35 mounted on the lifter arm 29. Preferably also the diameter of cam ring 35 is not less than the transverse width of lifter arm 29 so as to prevent any possibility of interference by the lifter arm 29 to free rotation of the cam 34. The main body portion of cam 34 at its periphery is such that the surface 60 is adjacent to but in slight spaced relation to cam ring 35 when lifter arm 29 is in lowermost position. To insure free vertical movement of lifter arm 29, the slight clearance is provided between the member 29 and the adjacent surface of abutment 21 so that the arm 29 does not bind between cam 34 and abutment 21. To obtain this clearance, the extension 55 of plunger 30 is provided with sufiicient clearance within aperture 44 of the portion 43 of lifter arm 29 to permit relative lateral movement of arm 29.

Cam 34 rotates inthe direction of the arrow as toweling is withdrawn and in moving from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 5. The cam ring 35 of member 29 riding upon the enlargement 61 of cam 34 raises the lifter arm 29 to the position shown in Fig. 5 from that shown in Fig. 2. As noted in Fig. 5, enlarged portion 61 of cam 34 is moving out of engagement with cam ring 35 just prior to or not less than concurrent with head 54 of stop arm 33 moving into engagement with stop. member 24. Due to the compression of O- ring 55 when moving into be 37 of cylinder 31, release of cam 34 from cam ring 35 results in a very slight downward movement of lifter arm 29 thereby positioning cam ring 35 below its previous point of engagement with cam 34. Such slight downward movement of lifter arm 29 in moving to timing position may slightly move head 54 of stop arm 33 out of engagement with stop 24 permitting a slight downward movement of stop 24, but this does not afiect the stopping action of stop member 24.

Referring now to the operation of the timing mechanism and particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 5, one wishing to secure a length of clean toweling, grasps the towel and pulling downwardly forces the pinch roll 14 (Fig. 1) into engagement with the surface of the roll of shaft 12 caus ing concurrent rotation of shafts 12 and 13 through the sprockets 20 and associated chain. Continuing a downward pull on the exposed portion of the toweling, concurrent rotation of drive shafts 12 and 13 permits a full or substantially full 360 rotation of roll 12 before member 27 rotating with its abutment 28 in engagement with stop 24 engages the stop 24 with face 23 of abutment 21. During rotation of dog 24 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 5, forceful rotation of the member 24- causes it to move downwardly and outwardly relative to shaft 12 for engagement with face 23 of abutment member 21. Concurrent with this rotation of dog 24, cam 34 rotating with shaft 13 and concurrent with shaft 12 acts through cam ring 35 to raise lifter arm 29 moving plunger 30 upwardly compressing the spring 41 of cylinder 31 and engaging O-ring 57 within the bore 37 of cylinder 31 to retain lifter arm 29 in elevated position. In this elevated position stop arm 33 has been raised bringing head 54 thereof into a position to prevent downward dropping of stop 24 out of engagement with abutment 21 as pressure is released from the toweling. The stop and timing mechanism are now in the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The energy stored in spring 41 of cylinder 31 acts through the plunger 30 to slowly force O-ring 57, within the bore 37 of cylinder 31, downwardly and 'out of cylinder 31. When this occurs, the remaining compression in spring 41 imparts a downward thrust to arm 29 causing the extension 48 thereof to forcibly strike dog 24 moving it downward on the shaft into the position shown in Fig. 2 and out of engagement with abutment 21. The mechanism is now in position for withdrawal of an additional length of clean toweling.

Referring again to Fig. 5 of the drawings wherein the mechanism is shown in timing position, it will be noted that cam 34 is entirely out of engagementwith cam ring 35. Obviously therefore if any person should grasp the used towel 19 of Fig. 1 of the drawings pulling downward in an attempt to impart a reverse movement of rotation to soiled towel roll 16 such movement would impart a reverse movement to shaft 13. When this occurs, the portion 61 of cam 34 reversing its normal movement, as indicated by the arrow, and moving to the right would abut against cam ring 35 preventing further reverse 1'0 tation of shaft 13 and thus effectively prevent unauthorized withdrawal of soiled toweling from the cabinet. It will be noted that the angularity of applied force from cam 34 moving in a reverse direction against cam ring 35 is insufficient to effect downward movement of lifter arm 29.

The amount of initial compression placed in spring 41 by rotation of shank 39 by the member 40 determines the timing interval. Upward movement of plunger 30 is substantially equal for all vertical upward movements of the lifter arm 29. The upper end of plunger 30 therefore always moves into engagement with spring 41 and imparts additional compression therein by substantially the same vertical movement. Obviously however if the spring 41 is under no initial compression, upward movement of plunger 30 meets little resistance. When, however, initial compression is imposed on spring 41 by the shank 39, greater resistance is offered to the upward movement of plunger 30 in further compressing spring 41, thus storing up more energy in the coiled spring 41 for faster ejection of O-ring 57 from the cylinder 31.

The timing mechanism disclosed herein is novel in that it may perform its intended function independently of the stop mechanism. Thus the stop mechanism may function to measure the length of toweling delivered by the mechanism during one continuous pull applied to the towel without the presence or operation of the timing mechanism. The timing mechanism, as described, serves its intended function of requiring a predetermined minimum time interval between successive withdrawals of toweling and also, where desired, forcibly move the stop to release position or permit the stop to move by gravity to release position. The timing mechanism also acts to prevent substantial reverse rotation of portions of the mechanism whereby the soiled toweling is removed from the dispensing cabinet in an unintended manner.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in the exact details of construction disclosed and described. Thus the spring within the cylinder for ejecting the plunger and its attached O-ring may take many forms and may be disposed within or without the cylinder. It might even be connected to the bottom of timer arm 29 to serve as a tension rather than a compression member without materially changing the mode of operating of the timing mechanism. Likewise the cylinder, plunger and O-ring are subject to modification or even substitution within the spirit of the invention. By suitable modification a dash pot and bleed valve could be provided, or a vacuum cup and bleed valve substituted for the cylinder, plunger and O-ring. The lifter arm 42 may be modified in detail without abandonment of any of its functions.

It is for these reasons that, having shown and described my invention in the presently contemplated best mode of construction, it is to be understood that the exact details disclosed are for purposes of illustration and not limitation, except as made necessary by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stop and timing device for the measuring roll of a towel dispensing mechanism, comprising a plate member, a measuring roll journaled in the plate member, an abutment member fixed on said plate, a stop member mounted on the measuring roll for concurrent rotation therewith, to engage the abutment member and stop rotation of the roll, the mounting of the stop member on the roll providing independent movement of the stop member relative to the roll and out of engagement with the abutment mem ber upon release of tension in the toweling being dispensed and measured by the roll, a member mounted on the plate for reciprocal movement, a cylinder mounted on the plate, said reciprocating member having an end portion moving within said cylinder, a resilient member mounted on said reciprocating member end portion for movement into and out of engagement within the interior of said cylinder, resilient means associated with said reciprocating member end portion resiliently resisting movement of the member in one direction, means imparting movement in one direction to the reciprocating member concurrent with rotation of the roll in a towel dispensing direction, and means actuated by said reciprocating member for movement to a position restraining transverse movement of the stop member relative to the measuring roll and out of engagement with the abutment member during such time as the resilient member of the reciprocating member end portion is engaged within said cylinder:

2. In a towel dispensing mechanism, in combination, a towel measuring roll to which is imparted rotary movement upon withdrawal of toweling from the cabinet, 2. stop member mounted on the roll for concurrent rotation therewith and independent movement relative thereto, an abutment mounted for engagement by said stop member to arrest rotation of the measuring roll, a member mounted for reciprocating movement, a member actuated by said reciprocating member for engaging said stop member when in engagement with said abutment, a member for imparting movement to the reciprocating member in one direction and controlled by the measuring roll, and means for engagement with the reciprocating member upon movement in said direction to provide a timing in terval.

3. In a towel dispensing mechanism, in combination, a towel measuring roll, a stop member mounted on the roll for concurrent rotation therewith in a towel dispensing direction, said stop member having independent movement transversely of the roll, an abutment mounted for engagement by the stop member during rotation of the measuring roll, a timing means including a member mounted for reciprocal movement into and out of timing position, said timing member having an arm operatively associated therewith restricting transverse movement of the stop member relative to the measuring roll and out of engagement with the abutment when said timing member is in timing position, means mounted at one side of said timing member and controlled by movement of the meas uring roll for moving said timing member into timing position, said last-named means being normally disposed in spaced relation to said timing member when in timing position, said member in timing position acting as an abutment preventing substantial reverse rotation of the said last named means and its controlling towel measuring roll.

4. The towel dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 3, whereinresilient means operatively connected with said timing means member resists movement of said timing means member into timing position.

5. The towel dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said timing means member is provided with an arm portion extending laterally therefrom, and said arm portion is provided with a depending portion disposed in spaced relation to said stop member for displacement thereof from engagement with said abutment as the said timing means member is resiliently urged out of timing position.

6. In a towel dispensing mechanism, in combination, a plate, a towel measuring roll journaled in said plate, a stop member mounted on said shaft for concurrent rotation therewith in one direction, said stop member having an elongated opening within which said measuring roll extends providing independent movement of the stop member in a direction transversely of the axis of rotation of the roll, an abutment mounted on the plate in the path of rotation of said stop member When extended in one direction transversely of the roll and in spaced relation to the stop member when the latter is retracted upon its mounting upon the roll, a soiled towel take-up roll journaled on said plate and operatively connected with said measuring roll for concurrent rotation therewith, a timing lifting arm mounted for vertical reciprocal movement relative to said plate, a cylinder mounted on the plate and provided with an opening therein, a portion of said lifting arm moving freely within said cylinder opening when the lifting arm is moved in at least one direction, a resilient member mounted in fixed relation on said lifting arm portion and movable therewith into and out of engagement with said cylinder opening, said resilient member being of a size to be compressed upon engagement within said cylinder opening and frictionally engage with the sides of the opening to resist movement therein, a cam member mounted on said soiled towel take-up drive roll for rotation concurrent therewith, means on the lifting arm for engagement by said cam, said cam acting through engagement with said means to move said lifting arm resilient member into frictional engagement within said cylinder opening and to move out of engagement with said means during rotation of the measuring roll, a member operatively connected with said lifting arm for positioning relative to said stop member preventing movement thereof out of engagement with the abutment during the period when said lifting arm is in timing position and movable by said lifting arm relative to the stop member permitting movement of the stop member out of engagement with said abutment, and resilient means acting on said lifting arm means when within said cylinder for retracting said arm and its means from the cylinder.

7. The towel dispensing means as defined in claim 6 wherein the resilient means acting upon the lifting arm means to retract it from the cylinder is adjustable for varying the time interval required to retract said arm and its means from the cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,666,288 Helmrich Apr. 17, 1928 1,988,266 De Bersaques Jan. 15, 1935 2,183,252 Birr Dec. 12, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 473,533 Great Britain Oct. 14, 1937' 

